Tag: author anthony avina
On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know by Ed Cohen Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In author Ed Cohen’s “On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know”, the author highlights the struggles of his life and the ways in which we can look past medicine itself as the only means in which to find healing in one’s life.
The Synopsis
At thirteen, Ed Cohen was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease—a chronic, incurable condition that nearly killed him in his early twenties. At his diagnosis, his doctors told him that the best he could hope for would be periods of remission. Unfortunately, doctors never mentioned healing as a possibility. In On Learning to Heal, Cohen draws on fifty years of living with Crohn’s to consider how Western medicine’s turn from an “art of healing” toward a “science of medicine” deeply affects both medical practitioners and their patients. He demonstrates that although medicine can now offer many seemingly miraculous therapies, medicine is not and has never been the only way to enhance healing. Exploring his own path to healing, he argues that learning to heal requires us to desire and value healing as a vital possibility. With this book, Cohen advocates reviving healing’s role for all those whose lives are touched by illness.
The Review
This was truly a thought-provoking read. The author does a spectacular job of finding just the right balance between his own personal experiences with Crohn’s Disease and living through the AIDS epidemic as a young gay man in the 80s with the more clinical applications of bridging the gap between the art of healing and the practice of medicine. The way the author approaches the topic from both Western and Eastern methodologies and practices was refreshing to see, as the work done in this book helps to find common ground and showcase the importance of healing itself in the world of modern medicine in a natural and engaging way.
The vast wealth of knowledge with the emotional core of the author’s own backstory and history and the moral, philosophical, and of course medical themes that the book engages with made this a compelling read. The intellectual and spiritual connections readers make to the author’s story and the insight they gained as a result of both their own personal work and the necessity their ailments brought was relatable, as I myself struggle with several autoimmune disorders and know the hardships that follow when modern medicine fails to combat the pain and struggles that follow.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and enlightening, author Ed Cohen’s “On Learning to Heal: Or, What Medicine Doesn’t Know” is a must-read nonfiction book on health, gender studies, and the study of physical ailments and diseases. The captivating personal stories the author shares and the depth of emotions that they bring up in the reader ebb and flow so smoothly with the dynamic information the author shares in regard to healing itself, making this one fantastic book to read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Ed Cohen is Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers University and author of A Body Worth Defending, also published by Duke University Press. He hosts a therapeutic practice for people interested in healing: healingcounsel.com
Guest Blog Post: What are Women Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom by Norma Watkins (Author of In Common)
What are Women Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom
In the mid-twentieth century, women were encouraged to sacrifice freedom for marriage, and discouraged from ever sacrificing that marriage for freedom. I have written about both.
Growing up in the South, we noticed the rules early: white people ruled over Blacks and men over women. My father certainly ruled our house; we feared his anger and obeyed his commands. By we, I mean his three daughters and our mother (whose cardinal sin became not giving him a son).
During the years covered in my novel In Common, men had careers and women did not, or at least proper white women in northeast Jackson, Mississippi, did not. Women were to serve by supporting their men, making sure a drink awaited when they got home, along with a nice, hot meal, and obedient children. Support meant not bothering the man with trivial household problems or asking for money. It meant not getting in the way of his work, his dinner, or his rest.
Properly brought up young women absorbed these lessons. We were sent to college primarily to find a man like our fathers, one who would go out and earn the living. In return for the great freedom of staying home, we were to keep quiet, run a good house, and give birth to at least one son. We were not to complain of boredom or purposelessness.
In my novel, two extremely capable women, Lillian and Velma, (Lillian could run an entire hotel; Velma was a superb secretary), sacrifice their talents for the love of a man who hardly appears to notice. Today, their choices look absurd, but we forget how little agency women possessed in those days. A married woman could not get a credit card in her own name, nor own property, or serve on a jury. If she complained too much, she could be declared a hysteric and institutionalized.
My first memoir, The Last Resort, is about one young female’s quest for freedom. The protagonist (me) looks for it initially by following the rules: find a man, marry him, give birth. In each instance, the promise of freedom turns out to be hollow. The man (in the middle of the civil rights troubles) is not the tolerant person she’d believed. Marriage brought a boring, poorly paid job and equally boring, unpaid household chores. Childbirth freed her from the job, but exponentially increased the chores.
In the end, she gives up home, husband, children, and reputation in exchange for autonomy—the freedom to think, and enough education to acquire a job she loves. The sequel, That Woman from Mississippi, shows the consequences of that bolt for freedom.
Literature (and life) are filled with far more dire sacrifices than mine. Saint Agatha, a high-born Sicilian beauty, lived during Roman rule in the middle of the third century. The Prefect wanted to possess her, but she refused his advances. She desired only the freedom to remain chaste and devote her life to the church. Outraged, he had her breasts torn off and she was sent to a dungeon to die. According to legend, the Lord sent an angel to heal her. Hearing this, the furious governor had Agatha dragged over hot coals until she died. In Sicily, February 5 is St. Agatha day, and bakeries sell breast-shaped buns in her memory.
Freedom is a moving target. Be careful of your choices.
Book Summary
Lillian Creekmore grows up at her family’s popular rural spa. She successfully runs an entire hotel, yet longs for a husband. Then she meets Will Hughes.
Velma Vernon accepts life on a small, struggling farm until a boy she barely tolerates proposes marriage. To accept means duplicating her parents’ hard life. Alone, she leaves for the city and triumphs, not as a wife, but by being the best at her job. Velma is content until the most beautiful man she has ever seen walks into her office.
This moving and darkly humorous novel follows the intertwined lives of women willing to surrender everything to a man.
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN-10: 1684339235
ISBN-13: 978-1684339235
ASIN: B09V1NNLSZ
Print Pages: 595 Pages
Purchase a copy of In Common by visiting Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. Make sure you also add In Common to your Goodreads reading list.
About the Author
Raised in the South during the civil rights struggles, Norma Watkins is the author of In Common and two memoirs: The Last Resort, Taking the Mississippi Cure (2011), which won a gold medal for best nonfiction published in the South by an independent press; and That Woman from Mississippi (2017). She lives in northern California with her woodworker husband and three cats.
You can find her online by visiting her website or reading her blog.
https://twitter.com/normascribble
Blog Tour Calendar
February 13th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
February 15th @ Michelle Cornish’s blog
Visit Michelle’s blog to read about good food as reward and vengeance by Norma Watkins.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
February 18th @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra as she features In Common and shares a guest post from Norma Watkins about writing truths about people who might be hurt by them.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
February 20th @ Lisa Buske’s blog
Stop by Lisa’s blog to read a guest post by Norma about civil rights and growing up in the South during Jim Crow.
February 22nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join us today for author Anthony Avina’s review of In Common.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
February 24th @ Fiona Ingram’s author blog
Stop by Fiona’s blog to read a guest post by Norma Watkins featuring a look at how women were treated in the South pre-feminism.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com
February 25th @ The Book Diva’s Reads
Visit Vivian’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an excerpt too!
https://thebookdivasreads.com/
February 27th @ Mindy McGinnis’s blog
Stop by Mindy’s blog to read a guest post about bad sex.
https://www.mindymcginnis.com/blog
February 28th @ Seaside Book Nook
Join Jilleen for a spotlight of an excerpt of In Common by Norma Watkins.
http://www.seasidebooknook.com/
March 1st @ The Mommies Reviews
Join Glenda as she reviews In Common and shares a guest post from the author about sharing the hard stuff.
March 2nd @ The Frugalista Mom
Join us for a guest post from Norma Watkins on how you are unique and irreplaceable.
March 4th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole’s blog where Norma Watkins is a guest for “Three Things on a Saturday Night.”
https://worldofmyimagination.com
March 5th @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins.
https://joyffree.blogspot.com/
March 6th @ Life According to Jamie
Join us as Jamie reviews In Common
http://www.lifeaccordingtojamie.com
March 8th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Revisit author Anthony Avina’s blog to read “What are Women Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom?” by Norma Watkins.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
March 9th @ The Knotty Needle
Stop by for Judy’s review of In Common.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
March 10th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews blog
Join Lisa for an interview with Norma Watkins.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
March 11th @ Reading in the Wildwood Reviews
Join us today for Megan’s review of In Common.
March 12th @ Jill Sheets’s blog
Stop by Jill’s blog to read her interview with Norma Watkins
On the Sly: A Sylvia Wilson Mystery by Wendy L. Koenig Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A local bar owner becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when the body of a former police officer is found inside her locked bar, and she must launch her own investigation to determine who the real killer is before they begin attacking those closest to her in author Wendy L. Koenig’s “On the Sly: A Sylvia Wilson Mystery”.
The Synopsis
Sylvia Wilson, a bar owner in St. Louis, Missouri, arrives at work to discover the body of an ex-police officer in her locked bar. The police focus on her as their primary suspect, so she decides to launch her own investigation into the dead man and his accomplices. But when the killer sends her clear messages that she and her loved ones are on his radar, she knows it’s just a matter of time before someone ends up dead.
The Review
This was a tense and gripping thriller. The author did a wonderful job of layering the mystery as the protagonist peeled back each layer slowly and built the heavy atmosphere up for the reader to get lost in. The drama and adrenaline that the author was able to infuse into the narrative helped elevate the shocking turn of events as each clue in the case led to more confrontations for the protagonist, both with the police investigating her and the killer she was investigating in turn.
The core of this novel’s plot came from the rich character dynamics at play and the atmospheric settings that brought St. Louis to life on the page. The way each character played off each other, and the protagonist’s troubled past mirroring that of the killer in a lot of ways, kept the mystery alive and engaging on the page, and allowed the imagery of the author’s writing to keep the story feeling very cinematic in quality, almost as if it could be a drama series on HBO.
The Verdict
Captivating, thought-provoking, and entertaining, author Wendy L. Koenig’s “On the Sly” is a must-read mystery thriller you won’t want to miss. The twists and turns in the narrative, as well as the gripping character growth and heartfelt emotional weight of the protagonist’s past tying into the narrative, will have readers eager for more from this incredible author. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Wendy Koenig is a published author living in New Brunswick, Canada. Her first piece to be printed was a short children’s fiction, Jet’s Stormy Adventure, serialized in The Illinois Horse Network. She attended University of Iowa, honing her craft in their famed summer workshops and writing programs. Since that time, she has published and co-authored numerous books and has won several international awards.
Website: http://www.wendylkoenig.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/WendyLKoenig
Instagram: http://instagram.com/wendylkoenig
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Eu39SZ
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75689995-on-the-sly
Excerpt from “On the Sly”
I moved to the front again, checking shadows before dodging into them. Reaching the door, I leaned into it, listening. Silent as a ball of cotton. The key slid smoothly into the lock and turned. I eased open the door. Watched and listened for any movement or noise. Nothing. I slipped my arm in and turned on my lights. The alarm was already off.
Mayhem erupted from my backyard as my dogs snarled and threw themselves at the sliding glass door with angsted fervor. I hadn’t let them out there. Maybe Aaron had stopped by. But the dogs were clearly upset, and they wouldn’t be if it had been my brother who’d visited.
Even if there was a noise, I wouldn’t hear it over the violent ruckus. I sidled into the room. Nothing but my blue furniture and beige carpet. Through the glass door, I saw Ruffles was foaming and standing stock still. When he moved, it was with the stiff-legged, high-toed, movements of a mechanical being. His upper lip was curled completely over his nose and the resulting sound came through the glass like an outboard motor. I’d never seen him so livid, and I honestly wondered how he could breathe like that.
Satan was throwing herself at the door again and again, as if she were a small missile that would weaken and eventually punch through the glass. I could picture the trauma her body experienced every time she made contact. If I didn’t do something fast, she would be covered in bruises, maybe even broken bones.
Something had upset them so much that even my presence didn’t calm them. Moving quickly through my home, I cleared all the rooms; no one was hidden anywhere. Then, I put the safety back on the gun, set it down, and went to focus on my poor dogs. I pulled out the rod I kept in the track. That’s when I noticed the dark brown handprint on the sliding door.
Unless I missed my guess, that was dried blood.
I pulled my cellphone and dialed Eccheli. It took him a long time to answer, and he didn’t sound too happy, but his sleep-cracked voice got animated the moment I explained what had happened.
He said, “Don’t touch anything. We’ll be right there.”
“My dogs might be injured. I need to go out there and check them.” Satan had calmed a little, but she still paced the window in agitation. Ruffles was standing stock still, growling.
He hesitated. “Do you have kitchen gloves?”
“I have painter’s gloves.” Actually, I didn’t. But I did have some of the gloves the police left behind at the bar. Close enough.
“Perfect. Go out to them, don’t let them in. We’ll get there right away.” He disconnected.
I probably was working my way back up Johnson’s ‘person of interest’ list with this middle of the night phone call. Nothing to be done about it.
When he’d said they’d get there right away, he wasn’t kidding. I’d managed to find my gloves, put them on, and had only been outside a few minutes. I was sitting in the soaked grass, trying to calm a frantic Satan so I could inspect her for injuries when my cellphone vibrated against my thigh.
Eccheli asked, “We good to come in?”
“Yeah, we’re out back.”
The minute the front door opened, Satan became all claws and teeth and twisted out of my arms. She threw herself at the glass door, ballistic missile at work again. As for Ruffles, I was used to his snarls, but the intensity of the one he gave at that moment scared me.
I watched Eccheli and Johnson as they entered my house. Saw how he noticed my Colt Python on the counter, pointed it out to Johnson, and how she nodded and pocketed it. I certainly hoped she was going to give that back; it had cost me a pretty penny.
As the two detectives cleared the house, again, flashing lights of an arriving squad car ricocheted off the back fence of the yard. I would probably be as popular in my neighborhood as a scorpion. At least there was no siren.
Mr. and Mrs. Detective returned to the front room. Eccheli leaned close to the glass, studying the handprint. Johnson stared out the glass at me and pointed at the door handle. When I shook my head, she pulled out her phone and called me. “How are the dogs?”
I shouted over the violence of growls and barks. “Ruffles has no injuries, but I can’t get Satan to hold still to check her!”
“Want me to call animal control to tranq her?”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to do that to my dogs, but I didn’t foresee Satan letting me check her any time soon and that bloody handprint scared me. I nodded to the woman staring out at me, feeling somehow like a traitor.
In the Shadow of a Dark Star: Godwinks and the Search for a Golden Thread by Brent R. Mekosh Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Brent R. Mekosh shares a wonderful collection of essays and vignettes to explore the various cultures and experiences he had in his travels in his book “In the Shadow of a Dark Star: Godwinks and the Search for a Golden Thread”.
The Synopsis
If you were to pick one that matters the most, is it the journey or the destination?
What happens when you think you can outsmart your soul? After a decade of amassing success on the cutthroat floor of the New York Stock Exchange, a disillusioned trader sets off on a global journey for answers that can’t be found intellectually. This story is a collection of 50 vignettes that share the most vulnerable and redemptive experiences of his travels, and what it means to find a home.
In this book, you will learn:
- Not all who wander are lost, but sometimes you need to get lost to find the answers you seek.
- The ways to know thyself and its overall impact in finding genuine happiness.
- There are times you must look into the shadows to find the beauty in life.
- Deeply profound human experiences are universal and transcend race, politics and other distractions.
- Life often gives you exactly what you want if you ask for it.
This is for anyone who is a traveler at heart and those who are interested in exploring the wonders of the world, learning different cultures, and pondering upon human experiences. Buckle up and get ready for a book that will take you all around the world! To find out more, grab a copy now!
The Review
This was a compelling and powerful read. The author does an incredible job of bringing honesty and depth to the essays in which the narrative of his travel adventures came to fruition. The emotional depth of the novel really stuck out to me, as the book honed in on the author’s emotional experiences and showcased the fullness of what travel is really like. For so many, all we see and hear is the glamour and allure of traveling to other countries and seeing the world, but to witness the author’s first-hand accounts showcases the wellspring of emotions that arise as these cultures are explored, from the sense of curiosity that comes from exploring these nations to the fear and loneliness that comes from the unknown.
The heart of this book rested on both the author’s honest style of writing and the powerful themes and issues the author touched upon throughout the book. The author’s travels often highlighted powerful and vivid images of the hardships and struggle the people of these nations faced on a daily basis, and became the tapestry from which the author’s own personal struggles and growth stemmed. The book touched upon themes of racial divide and the impact racism has on countries years after its supposed elimination, while other chapters honed in on the delicacy of life and death itself as he witnessed the mass cremation ceremonies of India. Yet it was the author’s use of personal interactions with locals in these nations that really made the story feel alive on the page.
The Verdict
Compelling, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Brent R. Mekosh’s “In the Shadow of a Dark Star” is a must-read nonfiction book on travel and personal development that will resonate and inspire many readers. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing style and the emotional heart of this travel adventure book serves to showcase the gritty work that goes into discovering yourself through the travels we share, and that through adversity and hardship can paradise truly be found. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Brent Mekosh is a former member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2006, Brent left New York and backpacked for a year across Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and Southeast Asia. Today, Brent is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. He lives in Phoenix with his wife Paige and their children Nicholas and Arden. Brent also enjoys trail running, camping, playing the guitar (badly), and reading lots of history.
Interview with Author Olga Tymofiyeva
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’m a human being, I’m Ukrainian, I’m a scientist, I’m a mother of a 3-year-old boy, and now I guess I can say I’m an writer.
I was born in 1981 in Kyiv. After having lived in Ukraine and Germany, I now live in the US and work as an Associate Professor of Neuroimaging at the University of California in San Francisco.
Being a scientist by trade, I write scientific papers all the time. I got into fiction writing because I HAD to share these thoughts. I had no other choice.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
It all started with me watching Professor Michael Sandel’s mind-blowing lectures titled “Justice,” which are available online for free. That’s how I learned about John Rawls’ “veil of ignorance” thought experiment which is at the heart of the Just City VR game. Originally, when I came up with the idea for the game, I wanted to create an actual VR game. Then a board game. But later I came up with a realistic, low-budget version: writing a book.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
The key message of this book is actually a quote by Professor Robert Sapolsky “You don’t have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate.”
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
Young Adult genre is just so real… I also wanted people to read about all those things in the book early on in their lives.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Maybe I would sit down with Nathan 20 years later and ask him how he is doing. (This doesn’t mean I’m thinking about writing a sequel – ha-ha!)
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I found running giveaways on Goodreads helpful, especially when you offer print copies. I offered 30 copies and over 2,200 people signed up. (You do pay about $100 for the giveaway though, and have to mail the actual books).
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
• Follow the “recipe” for writing a captivating story that you can find in “Story Genuis” by Lisa Cron. Don’t worry about “beautiful writing.”
• Get a book coach and pay for “deadlines” (you’ll lose money if you don’t submit your pages by the deadline).
• Find a writing buddy (or buddies). Meet every week in person or online for 30-60min. Tell each other what you’ll be working on, then mute yourselves, and at the end share how it went.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Are any new books/projects on the horizon?
I think there is a self-help book somewhere on the horizon!
About the Author
Olga Tymofiyeva, PhD, was born in 1981 in Kyiv, Ukraine. After having lived in Ukraine and Germany, she now lives in the US and works as an Associate Professor of Neuroimaging at the University of California in San Francisco. Just City is Olga’s first fiction book, which reflects her passion for science and critical thinking.
https://www.olga-tymofiyeva.com/
Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year by Vincent Traughber Meis Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man must navigate life as a Black teen while growing up with two dads and questions about his heritage in author Vincent Traughber Meis’s “Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year”.
The Synopsis
Colton is on a quest to meet his surrogate mom who might help him navigate being a Black teenager in today’s America. The woman who gave birth to him is Black. His dads are not. His diverse community of family and friends includes lots of LGBTQ+ people, though his first love is a girl of mixed race like him.
Colton’s dads reluctantly introduce him to his birth mother, but she doesn’t turn out to be person he hoped for. On his journey of falling in love, nearly losing one of his dads, and confronting a racist cousin, he learns about love, non-traditional families, community, and what is important in life. The biggest challenge of all is something he discovers about his birth, causing friction with his dads. But like every difficulty in his life, the love of his dads ultimately carries him along and lifts him up.
The Review
This was a powerful and well-written LGBTQ+ YA Drama. The author did an incredible job of layering the narrative with heart and thoughtful plot points that touched upon many of the issues still facing our society today. The rich descriptive nature of the scenes not only brought the reader into the settings perfectly but made the story feel alive on the page as if reading a script for a play at times as the narrative played out.
The heart of this narrative was definitely the thought-provoking themes and passionate character development that went into the story. The struggles that this cast of characters endured all showcased the unique hardships that certain groups of people still face in a prejudiced society, from the protagonist’s struggles to understand his heritage and how to live life as a black man, to the struggles of LGBTQ+ parents who try to navigate these difficult paths with their children and so much more. The dynamics of the characters as they struggled through these events felt realistic and captivating to behold, heightening the drama and emotions that the reader felt.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotionally driven, and thought-provoking, author Vincent Traughber Meis’s “Colton’s Terrible Wonderful Year” is a must-read LGBTQ+ YA Drama that readers won’t be able to put down. The shocking struggles these characters must endure and the all too familiar relatability of the issues that these characters face will resonate with many readers, and the captivating scenes that showcase the protagonist’s evolution over time will make this one story readers won’t be able to forget. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
In the 1980s and 90s Vincent Meis published a number of pieces, mostly travel articles, but also a few poems and book reviews, in publications such as, The Advocate, LA Weekly, In Style, and Our World. His travels have inspired his five novels, all set at least partially in foreign countries: Eddie’s Desert Rose (2011), Tio Jorge (2012), and Down in Cuba (2013), Deluge (2016) and Four Calling Burds (2019). Tio Jorge received a Rainbow Award in the category of Bisexual Fiction in 2012. Down in Cuba received two Rainbow Awards in 2013. Recently stories have been published in two collections: WITH:New Gay Fiction and Best Gay Erotica 2015.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America by Louis K. Lowy Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
SPECIAL NOTE:
This is a bit of an unusual aside to make in my reviews, but I felt compelled to add this as this review has become somewhat of an emotional and surprising one. I have worked with this incredible author several times over the last few years and was contacted a few months ago by him to review his latest book. Unfortunately, I did not know that when he did so, it would be the last time I heard from him.
It has come to my attention in the past week that author Louis K. Lowy has passed away at the age of 71. I had no idea that he had been battling an illness for some time and unfortunately has passed before I could share this review with him. He was a truly kind and encouraging author in this community, who I was not only thrilled to be able to work with as a reviewer and admirer of his work but who also supported my own ventures into the world of writing and was one of the few people I could consider a friend in this field.
I wish I’d had the chance to get to know him more, but I am honored for the times we were able to speak and work together. So this review is in memory and honor of Louis K. Lowy, a beloved author who will truly be missed.
The bizarre and bloody tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde continues long after the conclusion of the classic Victorian tale by Robert Louis Stevenson as the captive doctor and mad killer soon make their way to a still growing America in author Louis K. Lowy’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America”.
The Synopsis
It can now be revealed that the evil and violent Mr Edward Hyde – alter ego of London’s physician Doctor Henry Jekyll – did not die at the conclusion of the classic, Victorian-era case documented by Robert Louis Stevenson. Instead, this malignant criminal not only continued to plague Britons, but soon after set his ambitions for mayhem for other nations; and so headed for the United States.Follow this story, from bustling New York City to the balmy realms of Florida, where the goodly Jekyll feels the curse of his other personae more than ever before. Witness the tale of Hyde’s influence and monstrous acts increasing and Jekyll soon realising that if he cannot find a way to resolve his bizarre duality he will be forever lost, and the suffering and bloodshed he will have been responsible for having loosed on the new, bright world of America will be a horror unparalleled. For Hyde is a man who can never be caught by authorities as he hides within the form of his maker, and holds that maker’s life to ransom.
The Review
This was such an incredible follow-up to an iconic gothic horror classic. The settings of this novel were the first things that really captured my attention, as the story began in a classic Victorian-era London setting and kept the atmosphere of the classic, and then slowly over time shifted to a more early twentieth-century vibe when exploring the world of America and early moving picture studios, making it feel like a few noir elements were mixed into the story. The visceral nature of Hyde’s crimes and attitude was just as powerful as they ever were, and the way the story explores the criminal investigation that arises from those crimes kept me invested in the story.
Yet the heart of the narrative, as it was in the original, was the duality of Jekyll and Hyde. The desperation each feels in their mission to be rid of the other and the twist on their new connection that the author explores in this book was great to see as a new chapter of the mythos of Hyde came to life. The continuation of the experiments so Jekyll may be rid of Hyde for good leads to some unexpected outcomes, and the inclusion of a love interest that bridges the gap between the gothic nature of this original story and the updated noir storytelling was powerful and engaging to read, making the whole book feel quite cinematic in its delivery.
The Verdict
Entertaining, chilling, and mind-bending, author Louis K. Lowy’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in America” is a fantastic gothic horror meets noir thriller novel. The twists and turns in the narrative and the explosive finale will leave fans delighted as the story of this iconic horror literary figure gets a fresh breath of air that feels much needed. The author’s passion for this book and the atmospheric way in which it is written made this one book I didn’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Louis K. Lowy’s stories and writings have appeared in numerous publications including Coral Living Magazine, New Plains Review, The Florida Book Review, Ethereal Tales, Bête Noire Magazine, Pushing Out the Boat, The Chaffey Review, and The MacGuffin Magazine. He is a recipient of the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. His humor poem “Poetry Workshop” was the second place winner of the 2009 Winning Writers Wergle Flomp Contest.
http://tinyurl.com/Louis-on-Facebook
https://www.instagram.com/louis_k_lowy/
Interview with Author David C. Dawson
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Writing was therapy for me. I came out late in life, so when I did, writing was the obvious way to “let it all out”.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
I’ve been in a fabulous writing group for many years. Each month we write short stories for each other’s entertainment. A couple of people in the group were published and I thought, why not me? I didn’t have a big novel burning inside me, and throughout my life I’d written almost exclusively factual content, for news, documentaries, and magazine articles. But I’ve always loved mysteries .
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
A Death in Berlin is set in Germany in 1933 just as Hitler becomes Chancellor. I want people to understand that fascism can resurge at any time, and nobody spots it happening at the time.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I’m fascinated by the events of the twentieth century. So much technological development, so many wars, so much social change. I think it’s the most intense centuries in terms of what happened. Plus it’s well documented so it’s easier to write about than any other century.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
The character of Bill (real name Florence Miles) is based on a real person called Florence Milnes. She was the first executive appointed by the newly formed British Broadcasting Corporation in the 1920s. I’d like to ask her how on earth did she manage to rise to such a senior position in those times, when she was both a woman and a lesbian.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I suppose Goodreads. Readers can be pretty hurtful on there, but the praise outweighs the negative comments so it’s worth it. I don’t understand the apparent glee with which some readers write vile comments, either about my or other people’s books. There’s a real lack of respect among a (fortunately) few people.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Write! It’s a muscle that must be exercised. Self-editing is the worst blockage to writing. The first draft of anything is never going to be perfect. And that inhibits a lot of people. You have to overcome that and get something written down.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’m planning the third book in this particular historical mystery series. It’s going to be set in Paris at the outbreak of the second world war and features Noël Coward very heavily.
About the Author
Men in love, men in jeopardy.
David C. Dawson is an award-winning writer of page-turner thrillers with a gay theme and the occasional romance.
His latest novel A Death in Bloomsbury was published in November 2021.
His debut novel, The Necessary Deaths, won bronze for Best Mystery & Suspense in the FAPA chairman’s award. It became the first in the Dominic Delingpole series. The other two books are The Deadly Lies and A Foreign Affair.
His first mystery romance For the Love of Luke was published in October 2018 followed by Heroes in Love.
David lives in London with his boyfriend and ageing motorbike.
You can read his blog here: http://bit.ly/DavidCDawsonblog
In his spare time, David tours Europe on his ageing Triumph motorbike and sings with the London Gay Men’s Chorus.
https://www.davidcdawson.co.uk/
